http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html BENJAMIN KEITH: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Fri, 18 May 2012 01:02:04 -0700 http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#113
When I started to write music I didn’t have any plans for it. I remember having my weekend mornings with a pot of coffee spitting out terrible, terrible songs! I was proud of them at the time, but what really counted was that I was happy while creating them. Somewhere along the journey of trying to make a career of playing music I lost that love and it became a chore. I think career councilors who say “take what you love to do, and just make that your job!” should also say “just remember what you truly love about that thing, and don’t compromise that for anything!” It’s easy to loose track of things especially when times get hard. Making a living playing music is harder today than ever. (in my opinion) There is infinitely more competition than ever before, all using the same tools to gain attention from an audience who’s quickly becoming less and less interested in the skill and effort it takes to create original, meaningfully art. Wow that sounded really jaded but here’s a joke I read which really sums it up nicely.

A guy calls the musician's guild to get a quote on a six piece band for a wedding. The rep says "Off the top of my head, about two thousand dollars". He says "WHAT? FOR MUSIC?. " The rep responds " I'll tell you what. Call the plumbers' union & ask for six plumbers to work from 6 to 12 o'clock on a Saturday night. Whatever they charge you, we'll work for half." "I get your point" he said.

Now enough with negative part, and on to the positive. This is not a update to say I’m quitting music all together and moving to the mountains. Not nearly! It’s part to explain some of my frustration to people, and let them know what I’ve been feeling like for the last while. It’s a big and scary thing to venture on to new things in life, but as well it can be good thing.

Most people know me only as a musician, and like an onion everyone has many layers to who they are. One thing I’ve always found to be rewarding and inspiring has been teaching, be it music, math, business or sports. Over the last 5 months I’ve had the amazing privilege to help out with the Burnaby Mountain Secondary Boys Basketball Team. Many people can see no relation between sports and music, but both require skills that must be learned, and worked on. Helping with the team opened my eyes to expanding and focusing more on teaching. What better way to keep music in my life than to share the skills I’ve attained with others.

So there it is I suppose. I’m now offering an assortment of lessons/coaching.
Be it Guitar, Vocals, or a mix of both, songwriting, or stage performance. I want to share what I know with others. Maybe you want to sing a song to your girl/boy friend as a special surprise, be able to play one song on guitar while sitting around the camp fire, get up on stage at an open mic, or improve your songwriting craft. I can help with all any and all of those things.

Well it’s finally sunny out there and I should get some vitamin D while I can. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, and showing support over the years.
Cheers
BK]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#113 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#112
Often I hear people giving advice “find something in life you love, and make that your career” I wish they would add “but always remember why you love to do it, and hold on to that over everything else”

When I first started writing songs in my early 20’s I didn’t start out planning on making a career of it. I remember my weekend mornings (and often afternoons) with a pot of coffee just writing songs without an agenda. A short time later I was getting pushed on to an open mic stage for the first time, and that got me my first gig. Without a lot of thought I was playing shows, and investing a lot more into my music. I’ll admit I tend to head full force in to anything I’m doing, which at times is a great thing, others not so much.

Fast-forward a few years. Throw in a bunch of life experiences, some successes, some failures, along with age 30 peaking at me around the corner, and I start to wonder whether this is the right path for me. (I know, I know 30 is still young, but it’s old enough to know every year seems to go by quicker, and that there are lots of thing to enjoy in life)

I decided to make up this 90 day music challenge to know for myself once and for all whether a full time music career is right for me or not. I’ve decided to set difficult but achievable goals that will help me in my choice. By the end I will know. If I don’t achieve the goals, then I didn’t want it enough. If I achieve them, and I still have doubts, then I’ll know as well. And if I get to the end, accomplish the goals and feel good and happy, then I’ll know in my heart it’s worth pouring the hard work and sweat into.

So here are the goals I’ve set.
-Write 30 Original Songs
-Post 30 great cover songs on Youtube (not popular hits. Songs that move me)
-Have 30 performances (open mics, and online streaming shows included)
-Write a weekly Blog (thinking Sundays)

I don’t know what kind of support I’m looking for, but any and all would be welcome. Thanks so much for reading this and showing interest in either my Art or my person.

Here I go Day 1 of 90 (end Jan 31st)
BK]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#112 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#111 http://www.oneweekjob.com/]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#111 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#110 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUNEUCAbvcA

Mp3 at
http://benjaminkeith.bandcamp.com/track/so-much-to-say]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#110 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#107 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EXWKrf5Gxo

Mp3 at
http://benjaminkeith.bandcamp.com/track/what-are-you-waiting-for]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#107 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#105 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNNls_PFTo0

Mp3 at
http://benjaminkeith.bandcamp.com/track/we-see-differently]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#105 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#103 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbHw7_CG2M

Mp3 at
http://benjaminkeith.bandcamp.com/track/fear]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#103 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#101 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cQDYScsz9s

Mp3 at
http://benjaminkeith.bandcamp.com/track/new-york]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#101 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#100 http://benjaminkeith.bandcamp.com/

I plan on using to post the MP3's of my Youtube videos. Some people want those exact takes, not studio versions. Well now you can have them. I set the price as a "pay what you want" meaning if you want to throw me 100 bucks that would probably make my year, or at least help me not worry about that months rent as much as usual.

Well there you go. I've posted two newish Videos on Youtube, and the audio on Band Camp. "New York" and "Fear"

Enjoy
BK

http://www.youtube.com/benjaminkeithmusic
http://benjaminkeith.bandcamp.com/]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#100 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#99
Bises
BK (in france)]]> http://benjaminkeithmusic.com/news.html#99 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Singer Songwriter Performer Extraordinaire - BENJAMIN KEITH - News